Chen Hao's fingers were still tapping on the table, the rhythm matching the pulse signal he had just received. He was thinking about how to send the next round, whether to add some variation to let the other side know they weren't just machines.
Just then, Nana's voice rang out.
"Nutrition supply system warning: Current crop cycle output is only 63% of the required amount."
The sound wasn't loud, but it felt like a bucket of cold water being poured over your head.
Chen Hao stopped. He turned to look at the agricultural module interface on the other side of the main console. A smooth green line ran horizontally across the screen with almost no undulations, and below it was a small red label: "Estimated harvest delay of four days."
"When did this data become like this?" he asked.
Susan had already swiped to bring up the planting log. She quickly flipped through a few pages. "It started last cycle, but it didn't trigger an alarm. Soil activity has decreased by 19%, and light absorption is also low."
Carl straightened up from in front of the equipment cabinet, still holding the temperature gun in his hand. "No wonder the food I've been eating lately has been getting softer; it's not that my teeth are getting worse."
Chen Hao stared at the green line for a few seconds, then suddenly chuckled. "We can send a signal eight kilometers away and receive a response, but we can't even figure out how to grow vegetables?"
No one responded.
The atmosphere in the room changed. Just a moment ago they were discussing whether to send the handshake sequence again, but now it felt like someone was reminding them—you still need to eat.
"Communication is appearances, but food is substance." Chen Hao stood up and walked to the monitoring screen in the agricultural area. "We can communicate with the outside world now, but if we starve to death first, who will listen to our messages?"
Nana's optical lens rotated slightly, projecting a new set of data. "Based on the existing growth model, if unit output efficiency is not improved, a secondary rationing system will be implemented within six months. At that time, daily calorie intake will be reduced by 30%, affecting physical recovery and work continuity."
"So, in another six months, we'll have to tighten our belts and work harder?" Karl frowned.
“To be precise, it’s already sliding in that direction,” Susan added. “It’s not that I haven’t noticed the vegetables are growing slowly; I thought it was a seasonal issue or a bad batch of seeds.”
“It’s not a problem with the seeds,” Nana said. “It’s the inefficiency of the entire farming process. The existing tools are designed based on Earth standards and are not adapted to the gravity, soil density, and root structure of the main crops on this planet. Insufficient tillage depth and uneven soil loosening lead to low nutrient utilization.”
Chen Hao stroked his chin. "So you're saying we're still using the old methods, like using a tractor to plow land on Mars?"
"That's one way to understand it," Nana nodded.
"Then let's not wait any longer." Chen Hao patted the control panel. "Energy is sorted out, and communications are up and running. Next, we need to address the crucial issue of food. We can no longer rely on saving food. We need to build new farming tools and let the land work for us."
Susan looked up at him. "But our current manpower is all focused on optimizing communication links. If we were to allocate resources to agricultural projects, the progress would definitely be affected."
“So what if it’s going to have an impact?” Chen Hao said directly. “Without food, no one can press the button, no matter how strong the signal is.”
Carl scratched the back of his head. "The problem is, can we actually build anything? No matter how good the blueprints are, it's all for nothing if we don't have enough materials."
“I don’t expect to get it right the first time,” Chen Hao said. “Let’s design it first, see what we need, and then take it one step at a time. If all else fails, we can try and modify as we go. It’s not like this is the first time we’ve started from scratch.”
Nana's robotic arm moved slightly, connecting to the database port. "I have accessed the full spectrum of agricultural machinery databases for Earth and colonies, covering 3,726 models of tillage and harvesting equipment. It can be adaptively reconfigured based on local environmental parameters. I recommend starting the implement design project immediately."
"You've already thought this through?" Chen Hao raised an eyebrow.
“I identified the bottlenecks in agricultural production during the previous round of data analysis,” she said, “but they weren’t prioritized before.”
Susan glanced down at the record board in her hand. "If we really want to do this, I can pause the log compilation for the communication protocol upgrade and first categorize the planting data for your reference."
“I can do it too.” Carl put the thermometer back on the tool rack. “Although I don’t know anything about farming, I’m good at assembling and debugging. Just don’t make me draw diagrams.”
"Then it's settled." Chen Hao looked around. "From today onwards, agricultural tool development will be a top priority, with A-level tools as the best option. Nana will lead the design, Susan will provide crop and soil data support, and Carl will assist with subsequent prototype testing. I... will be responsible for expediting the process."
"You're quite good at dividing tasks," Susan chuckled.
"The art of leadership is to not lift a finger yourself, yet make others feel secure with you around," Chen Hao grinned.
The atmosphere in the room relaxed a bit. The feeling of being doused with cold water by reality was still there, but at least there was direction.
Nana has already begun screening machine models. "The initial consideration is to use a composite lever-driven tillage unit, paired with a low-damage cutting and harvesting mechanism. The former can adapt to high-viscosity soils, while the latter reduces harvesting damage to root and tuber crops."
"That sounds very technical," Carl said. "Could you explain it in simpler terms?"
"It saves effort when plowing the land and reduces root rot when harvesting vegetables," Chen Hao translated.
“I understand that,” Carl nodded.
"Another suggestion is to add modular interfaces," Nana continued, "to facilitate the later expansion of functional components such as sprinkler irrigation and fertilization, and to achieve multi-purpose integration."
Susan noted down the key points. "I'll compile the root distribution maps, maturity cycles, and soil preferences for the three main crops later, so you can make the matching process."
"And there's also the light data," Chen Hao reminded him. "Our days are long and nights are short, so the plant growth rhythms are definitely different from those on Earth."
“It has been included in the scope of variables,” Nana responded.
Chen Hao leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "I used to think that high technology was the only way out, but now my biggest concern is how to farm the land well."
“Survival has never been a high-tech issue,” Susan said. “It’s about whether the basic cycle can get going.”
“That’s right.” He sat up straight. “We’re raising the antennas above our heads higher and higher, but the land beneath our feet is becoming too barren to support us. If this continues, no matter how far the signal travels, it will only tell others that there’s a group of smart people starving to death here.”
There was a moment of silence in the room, then laughter erupted.
"So what's the goal this time?" Carl asked. "Not for the looks, but for a full stomach?"
“That’s right.” Chen Hao stood up. “Our goal is simple: to make sure every seed is planted in vain and every bit of effort is rewarded. From now on, if anyone says that farming requires no skill, you can take them to the fields for a day.”
Nana's optical lens flickered. "I've started generating preliminary design plans, and I expect to output the first structural framework within two hours."
"Don't rush to produce the drawings." Chen Hao waved his hand. "Let's figure out the conditions first. Don't try to build a spacecraft right away. This time, we need to make a hoe as good as a spacecraft."
“I understand,” she said. “Practicality will be the primary principle, while also taking into account manufacturability and ease of maintenance.”
The meeting ended, but no one left.
Susan opened the data terminal and began organizing the planting records. Carl checked the workshop's available tools list to see which ones could be used for modifications. Nana remained connected, with a parameter comparison program running in the background.
Chen Hao stood in front of the agricultural monitoring screen, looking at the still gently sloping green line.
He reached out and tapped the "Expected Harvest Date" on the screen, and the number popped up: **47 days later**.
It was almost a week later than originally planned.
“Forty-seven days…” he said in a low voice, “enough time for us to make a name for ourselves.”
He turned and walked to the document area, opened a drawer, and took out a blank writing board.
"Nana, when you come up with a proposal later, submit it here directly."
"clear."
He hung the whiteboard on the wall, next to which were the timetable and parameter records of previous communication experiments.
Now, the content on this board needs to be changed.
“What should the title be?” Susan asked.
“Just write it down—” He picked up a pen and wrote a few words on the board: “**Preparation for the Design of the First Generation of Localized Agricultural Implements**”.
The pen tip glided across the board, making a soft scratching sound.
Nana's data stream began loading, and the first category window popped up on the screen: **Applicable Terrain Analysis**.
Chen Hao stared at the line of text and suddenly spoke.
"What if the plow we make could automatically avoid stones, adjust its depth, and even fertilize while moving... Would someone dig it up as an artifact in the future and say it's the crystallization of ancient wisdom?"
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